Nodding syndrome, or nodding disease, is an unusual neurologic condition that has been reported in certain parts of Africa, including South Sudan, Northern Uganda, and southern Tanzania.

Nodding syndrome is characterized by episodes of nodding of the head combined with other features typical of seizure disorders.

Most affected patients with the symptoms are children from 5-15 years of age (about 3,000 children and about 170 deaths attributed to nodding syndrome).

Recovery from the condition has not been described.

Preliminary studies have shown an association between infection with the parasite
Onchocerca volvulus and development of nodding syndrome, but it is unclear why this infection would cause the typical clinical symptoms.

No other risk factors for nodding syndrome have been identified.

Further research is needed to fully understand the cause and progression of this unusual condition.

In November 2010, the Ministry of Health of the proposed nation of South Sudan requested CDC assistance in investigating a recent increase and geographic clustering of an illness resulting in head nodding and seizures. The outbreak was suspected to be nodding syndrome, an unexplained neurologic condition characterized by episodes of repetitive dropping forward of the head, often accompanied by other seizure-like activity, such as convulsions or staring spells. The condition predominantly affects children aged 5–15 years and has been reported in South Sudan from the states of Western and Central Equatoria (1) and in Northern Uganda and southern Tanzania (2,3). Because of visa and security concerns, CDC investigators did not travel to South Sudan until May 2011. On arrival, a case-control study was conducted that included collecting exposure information and biologic specimens to assess the association of nodding syndrome with suspected risk factors. A total of 38 matched case-control pairs were enrolled from two different communities: Maridi and Witto. Overall, current infection with Onchocerca volvulus diagnosed by skin snip was more prevalent among the 38 case-patients (76.3%) than the controls (47.4%) (matched odds ratio [mOR] = 3.2). This difference was driven by the 25 pairs in Maridi (88.0% among case-patients, 44.0% among controls, mOR=9.3); among the 13 pairs in Witto, no significant association with onchocerciasis (known as river blindness) was observed. Although onchocerciasis was more prevalent among case-patients, whether infection preceded or followed nodding syndrome onset was unknown. Priorities for nodding syndrome investigations include improving surveillance to monitor the number of cases and their geographic distribution and continued work to determine the etiology of the syndrome.

Investigation and Results

As part of the outbreak investigation, a descriptive case series and a case-control study to assess for risk factors were conducted in two locations (Witto village and Maridi town) in the state of Western Equatoria, in South Sudan, where cases of nodding syndrome had been reported. Witto village is a rural setting inhabited by internally displaced persons, and Maridi town has a large, semiurban population. To ascertain whether the clinical syndrome was the same as that observed in other East African countries, a clinical case series study, with complete physical and neurologic examinations, clinical and epidemiologic history, assessments of family history, and relevant laboratory investigations, was conducted. A case of nodding syndrome was defined as onset of repetitive dropping of the head within the preceding 3 years, as reported by a caregiver, in any previously developmentally normal child aged <18 years who had at least one other neurologic or cognitive abnormality or seizure type, based upon investigator observation or caregiver history.

Ten case-patients from the case-control study were included in the case series study by selecting every third case. Additionally, 14 case-patients were enrolled in the case series with the same criteria as the case-control study enrollment except for the age at head nodding onset. To gain an understanding of the natural history and progression of the illness, these 14 children were selected to represent affected children who displayed earlier onset of head nodding and therefore longer duration of illness.